So checking on the news services I found this article. It details the capture of a Taleban stronghold by the Pakistan Army, in the Swat valley.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news...0/AS.Pakistan/

This offensive came about when the Taleban failed to stick to an agreement with the Pakistan government about sticking to the Swat valley and laying down their arms.

I think that this is a positive for Pakistan, they made an agreement, the terms were broken so the Army was sent in. But what are the long term implications?

As the article suggests, will the Taleban retrench into Pakistan, making it seem as if they've fled Afghanistan, if so how long will the political will in the US & NATO hold out to keep working in Afghanistan? Also how long can Pakistan keep this fight going in their country? To ask for ground support from NATO would be political suicide, so how will they keep up this offensive - if at all?

For me I reckon that the best approach is to workat it at like eating an elephant, one piece at a time - but this will mean a long and drawn out fight, reminiscent of Sri Lanka & Chechnya, so will the Pakistani population be up for this?

It's a good sign from the Pakistani government, and we all love a good positive every now and then

Hi,




They have a long way to go

And why do the Paki goverment an agreement with the Taleban in the first place?
They are the very people they have comitted to help fighting..

If they can´t do the job themselves, why not let OEF forces come in and finish what they started on the other side of the border?

House to house fighting in Mingora right now.

Official sources claim no civilian casualties.

I have a bad feeling that this might be theater.

Bingo, read the two statements above, both made by Pakistani officials..
Do they seem to go together?

Anyone that have trained in/ performed MOUT knows what I am talking about..

Perhaps I´m cynical again..
//KJ.

They've obviously struck a deal, made it look like there's a war going on when there really isn't any serious, decisive fighting.
The Pakistanis can say "look, see? We're doing something! We're fighting the war on terror too!"
The Taliban will retreat putting up just enough "fight" to make it look "real."
Then after a while the Taliban will return to most of those areas and the Pakistanis will say "aww, look. Violence doesn't solve anything. Let's negotiate and send aid for the milit- REFUGEES! Yes, refugees."

The situation in Pakistan is worrisome, I've been following it too. It's hard to believe that the Taliban have been able to gain so much ground so quickly in that country.

Jilly to my mind it hasn't been quick. It has been a gradual seepage, always under the radar. I believe that it has been reported within Pakistan, but only recently come to head for the outside world to get interested - don't forget that Iraq has been the main thrust of news until 2008.